FamilySearch has added 2.1 million indexed records and images this week from BillionGraves, Canada, Czech Republic, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, and the United States. Notable collection updates include the 815,732 index record and images from the BillionGraves Index collection, and the 753,021 images from the U.S., Washington, County Records, 1856–2009, collection. See the table below for the full list of updates. Search these diverse collections and more than 3.5 billion other records for free at FamilySearch.org. Full Story

FamilySearch has added 23.9 million indexed records and images this week with new browsable image collections from Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, England, Italy, Mexico, and the United States. Notable collection updates include the 19,206,333 images from the new United Kingdom, World War I Service Records, 1914-1920, collection, the 2,005,113 index records from the United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, collection, and the 930,622 index records from the U.S., New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1925-1942, collection. Search these diverse collections and more than 3.5 billion other records for free at FamilySearch.org. Full Story

FamilySearch has added 2.7 million indexed records and images this week with new browsable image collections from Canada, England, Italy, and Wales. Notable collection updates include the 829,450 indexed records and images from the U.S., Georgia, County Marriages, 1785—1950, collection, the 337,856 images from the Italy, Bologna, Bologna, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866—1941, collection, and the 120,113 images from the new Wales, Court and Miscellaneous Records, 1542-1911, collection. See the table below for the full list of updates. Search these diverse collections and more than 3.5 billion other records for free at FamilySearch.org. Full Story

Yes, we do. FamilySearch is committed to preserving historical records related to the human family. Since 1894, we have acquired genealogy records from around the world. Microfilm copies (and more recently digital images) of these records are stored in a high-tech vault excavated into a slab of granite in a mountain near Salt Lake City in the United States. To prevent these valuable collections from deteriorating, the public is not allowed access inside the vault. But, you can get a sneak peak of what goes on inside in this two-part YouTube video: Full Story

A fascinating part of our American story is the initial settling of the colonies. In 1620, intrepid Pilgrims sailed the ocean blue to come to America from Europe aboard the Ship called the Mayflower. They disembarked at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts. Excellent organizations and researchers are available to help you document your descent from Mayflower passengers. Here are two of my favorite sites: Full Story

FamilySearch has added 1.7 million indexed records and images this week with new browsable image collections from Austria, Paraguay, and the United States. Notable collection updates include the 13,110 images from the new Arizona, Maricopa, Mesa City Cemetery Records, 1885-1960, collection and the 105,745 indexed records and images from the New Zealand, Immigration Passenger Lists, 1855-1973, collection. Search these diverse collections and more than 3.5 billion other records for free at FamilySearch.org. Full Story

FamilySearch added an additional 10.5 million indexed records and images in the last two weeks. The largest portion of this update includes the 8,613,673 images added to the New York Probate Records from 1629 to 1971, increasing this collection’s images by 63 percent. Other notable collection updates are the 699,800 indexed records and images from the Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Immigration Cards from 1900 to 1965, and the 307,448 images from the Peru, Lima, Civil Registration from 1874 to 1996. See the table below for the full list of updates. Search these diverse collections and more than 3.5 billion other records for free at FamilySearch.org. Full Story

Family Search has recently released online Saskatchewan Catholic Church Records which include baptisms, confirmations, marriages, burials, and other records between 1846-1957. Pioneer missionaries trained at the Diocese of St. Boniface located at Fort Garry, Manitoba. (Following the Red River Rebellion 1869-1870 the name Fort Garry or Upper Fort Garry was no longer in use, and the rapidly growing settlement became known as Winnipeg.) By 1840 the Roman Catholic Church began expanding westward across the prairies then known as Rupert’s Land. The St Philip mission at Fort Pelly (near Kamsack) along with the Crooked Lake mission in the Qu’Appelle Valley were two initial missions in the Swan River area (now this area is a part of south central Saskatchewan and spans lands on both sides of the Saskatchewan – Manitoba border). The Saint-Jean-Baptiste mission at Île-à-la-Crosse became established in 1846 as a base for the northern fur trading posts (serving northern First Nation and Métis people in northern Saskatchewan, northeastern Alberta and northwestern Manitoba). Full Story